Dishwashing machine



B. K. BALLENTINE DISHWASHING MACHINE Mack 28, 1939.

Filed Oct. 28, 1938 T RNEY Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITEDT'STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 msnwasnmo MACHINE George K. Ballentine, Ridgewood, N. J.

Application October 28, 1938, Serial No. 237,377 6 Claims. (Cl. 259-98) 10 are'comprised in two main classes, the first class being that in which machines of a larger, heavier and more expensive construction are classified, and wherein the dishes to be washed are contained in a skeleton receptacle 'or basket which is rotated or whirled inside of an outer receptacle in which the soap and water mixture is contained. This type of dish washer is expensive to acquire and to operate; it is large and cumbersome and is portable only with difliculty. The rotating basket and the supporting spindle or other element which holds the basket occupies a considerable portion of the water-containing chamber so that the containing capacity of the washer-is relatively small in comparison to the general bulkiness of the entire device. In the second class are those devices of a construction wherein the water is either agitated relative to the dishes or caused to be moved past the dishes with a frictional rubbing contact against the surfaces of the dishes to scrub the same clean. The

present invention' relates to dish washers comprised in the latter class and contemplates the provision of means by which the water is bodily shifted back and forth across the surface of the dishes with a frictional action thereon to cleanse the same; 1

. The invention also contemplates the provision '45 weight structure capable of being easily-placed in a kitchen sink of conventional shapeand size and conveniently removed and stored away when not in use. f

Other objects of the invention will be readily 50 apparent from the following description and appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown, Fig. l is a sectional view through a dish-washing machine 55 made'in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2

is a plan view of the same,with the cover removed and with parts in section to disclose con struction; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the partition or wall in which the water-agitating diaphragms are located: and Fig. 4 is a sectional 5 view through a modified structure.

With reference to the structures of Figs, 1 to 3 inclusive, l indicates the receptacle which forms the water-containing chamber. The same is preferably of any desired size and shape accordl0 .ing to the dish-washing capacity required. It has been found convenient to provide a receptacle of elongated or oval form to enable the same to be conveniently rested in a kitchen sink or the like. The receptacle l is preferably of non-corrosive l or enamelled metal and may be provided with a conveniently-placed nipple for receiving a hose extending from a water faucet so that it may be filled, and also with a drain outlet at or near the bottom, by which it may be emptied. These-ele- 2 ments being common in dishwashing machines, are not herein shown for simplicity in illustration, but may be incorporated in the structure, if desired. The upper edge or rim of the receptacle may be rolled over as at 2 or otherwise reinforced in any suitable manner to receive the cover 3 which is held down on the rim by means of clips 4 or equivalent fastening means. The receptacle 6 is divided into two chambers 5 and 30 t by means of a vertical'partition or wall member l which is disposed across the interior of the receptacle near one end thereof.- The larger chamber 5 of the receptacle constitutes the dishholding chamber which contains the dishes 8 to be washed, as well as the soap-and-water mixture 9 or other dish-cleansing liquid.

In order to hold the dishes and other utensils in suitably spaced relationship and in proper position to permit the ready passagev of the 40 cleansing liquid between them, the dishes are preferably supported on edge in a wire rack or basket l0 fitting within the chamber 5.

The wall or partition I constitutes a support for the water-agitating means, consisting of a or of some similar flexible material. They may also be made .of a thin, flexible non-corrosive metal. The diaphragms are normally dished in reverse directions, as shown in Fig. I and may, if desired, be of oval, circular or other outline.

Secured on the wall 1 between the two diaphragms is a clevis I4 in which is pivoted at ii a three-armed rocking lever Ila. The arm It of said lever is pivotally connected at I! to a clevis I8 secured to and projecting from the center of the diaphragm I2, while the arm I! is pivoted at 2| to the clevis 22 secured to the center of the diaphragm II. 'The central arm 23 is formed enclose the operating mechanism in a separate with an elongated slot 24 in which a pin 25 rides, said pin being formed on and projecting from crank 26 on shaft 21 mounted in a bearing 28 projecting from the casing of an electnc motor 29. Shaft 21 carries a worm gear," which engages and is driven by a worm 3i on the shaft of the motor 29. It is obvious that by operation of the motor 29, pin 25 operating in slot 24, will cause the rocking lever I 3 to be rocked on its pivot I5 so that while the upper diaphragm I I is flexed toward the right of Fig. 1, the lower diaphragm I2 will be flexed inwardly or toward the left and toward the water 9. motor 29 and the drive mechanism just described,

'the diaphragms II and I2 will be simultaneously moved or flexed in opposite directions. The eflect of this action of the diaphragms is to vigorously shift the body of water 9 or other cleansing liquid within the chamber 5 causing it to be bodily moved past the surfaces of the dishes 8, the frictional action of the soapy liquid on the dishes tending to thoroughly cleanse the same. It will be noted that the upper diaphragm 'II is located adjacent the water level in chamber 5 and as it is flexed to the position shown in Fig. 1, it will tend to displace or move the water in the chamber near the top of the receptacle toward the left. At the same time, the lower diaphragm I2, being located adjacent to the bottom of the receptacle, will tend to permit the water near the bottom of the receptacle to move toward the right. The simultaneous movement of the two diaphragms in opposite directions will thus tend to set up a turbulent action of the water within the chamber 5 with the result that an efllcient washing of the dishes contained in chamber 5 will result.

All of the operating mechanism for actuating the diaphragms, II and I2 is contained in. the chamber 6 and said chamber may, if desired, be completely sealed so that the possibility of water entering the same and reaching the operating mechanism will be avoided. It is also possible to water-tight casing within the chamber so that even if water should reach this portion of the receptacle, the operating mechanism will re dry under all circumstances. r

In Fig. 4 is shown a modified structure.

a rocking plate II is employed as a substitute-for the two diaphragms but will cause an action upon the water similar to that obtained by the diaphragms. The plate II is pivoted at II on a suitable supporting rod extending across the partition or wall I, and the edges of the plate II are con- 52 which permits the rocking or pivotal movement of the plate I. and atthe same time maintains a water-tight Joint between the edges of the plate and theedges oftheopenlng inthepartition I in which the plate is mounted. The projecting arm as, provided with tbeslot 24, engages pin 2' and In other words, by operation of the is operated by the motor-driven mechanism as described with respect to the structure of Fig.1. In operation, it is merely necessary to 1111 the chamber 5 with a soap-and-water mixture or other suitable cleansing liquid, and place the rack ll containing the dishes 2 in position in chamber I as shown in Fig. 1. The cover 2 is then placed on the receptacle I and the motor 29 is set in operation, whereupon a vigorous back and forward flexing action of the diaphragms I I and i-2 occurs. This action is such as to cause the water to be vigorously shifted within the chamber 8 to apply a frictional scrubbing action to the surfaces of the dishes and cleanse the same.

It will be understood. from the foregoing that various modifications may be made in the structures described without departing from the spirit of the invention. The shape, sizeand location of the oppositely acting diaphragnis or similar waterdisplacing equivalents may be varied in many ways according to the shape and general structure of the receptacle in which they are employed. The material of the diaphragms and the means by which the diaphragms are flexed or shifted may also be altered according to difl'erent structural requirements. In fact, a'manually-operated, diaing movable elements mounted one above the other for movement to and from the one body of washing fluid to shift the same bodily at different levels in the receptacle, and means for simultaneously moving said elements in opposite directions, the interior of the receptacle being undivided whereby free unrestricted flow and turbulence of the body of water occurs under movement of the movable elements.-

2. In a washing machine, a chamber for containing a body of water, a side wall having superposed alternately operating means acting upon said body of water at two levels whereby the water at said two levels is moved in opposite directions relative to one another. v 3. A machine of the character described coin-' prising, a receptacle for containing dishes or relatively to one another, and means for flexing n one of the diaphragms-in one direction and for simultaneously moving the other diaphragm in the opposite direction, the interior of the recep-' taele beingnmdivided whereby free unrestricted flowand-tdrbulenceofthebodyofwateroccurs underthe diaphragm action.

4.Inawashingmachine,achamberiorcon tainingabodyofwatenasidewallhavingapair of diaphragms mounted in it for. reciprocating movemmt, cneof said diaphragmsbelng moimtentlevelsismovedinoppositedirectiombysim'ultaneom opposite movement of the diaphragmaandmeansforsimultaneouslymovlng salddiaphrag'msinoppositedirections.

7i edabovetheother'wherebythewateratdiilm' d turbulence of the body of water occurs under the diaphragm action. 7

8. In a machine of the character described,, a

chamber for containing a body of water, a side wall in which 'a rocking element is' mounted to cause said element to move atone end toward the body of water while its opposite end is simuitaneously moved away from the body of water whereby the water at two diflerent levels is moved in opposite directions by such movement of the element, the chamber being undivided whereby free unrestricted flow and turbulence of the body of water occurs under the rocking 1 movement of said element.

GEORGE K. BAHEN'IINE. 

